Pregnancy Guide

Pregnancy Complications

As your body changes throughout pregnancy, it may be difficult to understand what is normal and what may be cause for concern. Although the majority of pregnancies are uneventful, complications sometimes occur.

The following are some of the more common pregnancy complications:

Amniotic fluid complications.Too much or too little amniotic fluid in the sac around the fetus may be a sign of a problem with the pregnancy.

Bleeding.Bleeding in late pregnancy may be a sign of placental complications, a vaginal or cervical infection, or preterm labor. Bleeding at any time during the pregnancy should be reported to your doctor right away.

Ectopic pregnancy.An ectopic pregnancy is the development of the fetus outside of the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies occur in about one out of 50 pregnancies and can be dangerous to the mother.

Miscarriage or fetal loss.A miscarriage is pregnancy loss that happens up to 20 weeks of gestation. Most miscarriages occur before 12 weeks. Miscarriages occur in about 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies.

Placental complications.Under normal circumstances, the placenta attaches to the uterine wall. Two types of placental complications may occur, including:

Placental abruption

Placenta previa

Preeclampsia or eclampsia.Preeclampsia, also called toxemia, is characterized by pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling due to fluid retention. Eclampsia is the more severe form of this problem.

Additional pregnancy complications include, but are not limited to:

Spotting

Gestational diabetes

Stillbirth

For more information regarding pregnancy complications, call (314) 996-5433 or email us to schedule an appointment to speak with a doctor.